Systems and Methods for Generating Secure Documents from Scanned Images

1. A system for preparing and securing a scanned document for use by an application, said system comprising: a scanner configured to scan a document; and a processor coupled to the scanner, the processor being configured to determine a security profile to be assigned to the document based on a predefined workflow, apply the security profile to the document, extract keywords from the document, and route an output document to an application, wherein the output document includes the applied security profile based on the predefined workflow, and wherein the output document comprises an unsecure, searchable portion and a secure portion, the searchable portion comprising a searchable representation of the scanned document based on the extracted keywords.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a multi-function device, the multi-function device comprising the scanner.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the predefined workflow based on information received from a user that identifies the predefined workflow.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the predefined workflow from a template, the template comprising a portion of the scanned document.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to route the scanned document to at least one destination that is specified in the predefined workflow, the destination including at least one of a user account, a repository, and an output device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the security profile comprises at least one of read only access, print only access, modify access, copy access, and secure print.

7. A method for preparing and securing a scanned document for use by an application, said method comprising: receiving a scanned document; determining a security profile that is to be applied to the document based on a predefined workflow, the security profile specifying access limits to be applied to the document; applying the security profile to the document; extracting keywords from the document when the document is being scanned: and routing an output document to an application, the output document having the applied security profile based on the predefined workflow, and wherein the output document comprises an unsecure, searchable portion and a secure portion, the searchable portion comprising a searchable representation of the scanned document that includes the extracted keywords.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the security profile comprises: receiving information from a user; and identifying the predefined workflow based on the received information.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the security profile comprises: determining when the scanned document includes a template; and identifying the predefined workflow based on information contained in the template.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said routing comprises routing the scanned document to at least one of a user account, a repository, and an output device based on the predefined workflow.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the security profile comprises at least one of read only access, print only access, modify access, copy access, and secure print.

12. A recording medium having computer executable program code for the method of processing a document as claimed in claim 7 .

13. A method for preparing a searchable representation of a secured scanned document, said method comprising: receiving a scanned document; extracting keywords from the scanned document; generating an unsecure searchable representation of the scanned document, the searchable representation including the extracted keywords; determining a security profile to be assigned to the scanned document; outputting a document comprising the searchable representation and a secure portion, the secure portion being secured according to the security profile; and routing the outputted document to a repository.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the security profile comprises at least one of read only access, print only access, modify access, copy access, and secure print.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the security profile is determined based on a predefined workflow, the security profile specifying access limits to be applied to the document, the method further comprising: routing the outputted document to an application, the outputted document having the applied security profile based on the predefined workflow.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the security profile comprises: receiving information from a user; and identifying the predefined workflow based on the received information.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the security profile comprises: determining when the scanned document includes a template; and identifying the predefined workflow based on information contained in the template.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein said routing comprises routing the scanned document to at least one of a user account and an output device based on the predefined workflow.